Trump's war drowns his allies

Americans are feeling the price of Donald Trump's war in Iran in their pockets. Last Friday, the average price of diesel in the United States was near its all-time high of $6.43 per gallon, according to GasBuddy, and the president's own voters are fearlessly expressing their discontent on social media. It is a situation that worries Republicans because it adds to the crisis also caused by the trade war. Their economic situation, however, is not nearly as serious as that of other countries, from Guatemala to Indonesia, where there have been demonstrations and protests over the rise and shortage of fuel due to the Gulf crisis. In Spain, of course, were it not for state aid, the unrest would also be deeper, and even so, a hot autumn is already expected, because farmers and transporters are demanding more aid, as what they have is not enough to maintain their activity.

The situation, however, could worsen even further in the coming weeks, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has now been joined by the blockade of the other crucial strait, the Bab el-Mandeb, controlled by the Houthis in Yemen, who have also forced the closure of Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline with their attacks. This past Saturday there was a new escalation when the Houthis announced direct attacks on the Saudi capital itself, Riyadh, and the offensive continues, because the prolongation of the war is causing neither the United States nor, above all, its allies to have enough air defense reserves. The conflict is increasing in intensity, but the Gulf countries, and especially Saudi Arabia, are finding that they cannot count on the United States to defend them. That is why they are now in desperate search of other allies.

The President of the United States, while all this is happening, is trying to divert attention with the pact with Denmark and Greenland, which for the moment it is not clear to what extent it goes beyond what was already signed in the fifties during the Cold War. And Benjamin Netanyahu, the great instigator of the war against Iran that has turned the world upside down and perhaps, it remains to be seen, could cost Trump the midterm elections, is maintaining a low profile, as if the matter had nothing to do with him. He also has elections in sight. The two friends will meet again in the framework of the 81st edition of the United Nations General Assembly, which begins this Monday in New York. But there will also be many other leaders who were previously friends and now see that what is being asked of them from Washington is a vassalage without many compensations. It will be very interesting to see what happens this week and the speeches that are made at the UN headquarters in New York. Trump has managed to create a climate of fear, especially economic, and has greatly angered his allies. Xi Jinping, who will also be in New York, where he will finally meet with Trump, is weaving his own system of alliances. In a situation as uncertain as the current one, the meeting that begins this Monday may be key to understanding how alliances are reorganized in this new world.